Report / Factsheet

Differential entry points to address complex natural resource constraints in the highlands of Eastern Africa

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  • Ethiopia
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T Amede, 'Differential entry points to address complex natural resource constraints in the highlands of Eastern Africa', p.2, Centro Internacional de Agricultura Tropical (CIAT), 2003

Given steep slopes, high populationdensity and land shortage, accompanied byintensive cropping and high rainfall inten-sity, decline in soil fertility is very apparentin the African highlands. Three out of thefive principal problems listed by farmersare commonly relatedto soil fertility decline.The research team ofthe African HighlandsInitiative (AHI) incollaboration withCIAT and the Ethio-pian AgriculturalResearch Organization(EARO) employedseveral participatorytechniques in order to:(1) develop strategiesto address complexNRM issues and (2)foster a change from acommodity orientationto a more holistic andparticipatory approachin the research system. Farmers were in theforefront throughout the processes oftechnology development, technologydissemination and impact assessment